Automatic train-pipe coupling.



1%; 819,498. PATENTED-MAY 1, 1906.

. L. O. GARY. AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING.

APPLIOATION FILLED JULY 6, 1905. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

.i v fiacbir MM 4 lm-J ma L. C. GARY.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING.

APPLIGATIVON FILED JULY 6. 1905.

PATENTED MAY L 1966.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

LEWIS o. CARY. or CHICAGO, 'iLLiXoIs/i MESNE OF ILLINOIS.

SSlG-NOR, BY manor AND- ASSIGNMENTS, TO CARY IXVENTIONS CO, A CORPORATION AUTOMATlO TRAIN-PIPE COUPLING.

, Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed July 6,1905. Serial No. 258,566.,

Patented May 1, 1906.

T0 (LIZ 10/1 0112 it 71mg concern: Y

'Be it known that I, LEWIS C. CARY, resid. ing at 353 est Belmont avenue, Chica the county ol'Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Automatic Train-Pipe Couplings, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and. useful improvements in automatic pipecouplings, and particularly to train spipe couplings for air and steam.

The objects of my improvement are, first, to provide an automatic train-pipecoupling for air and steam, and, second, to provide a pair of pipe-couplings to be carried by the car-coupling heads of cars and adapted to automatically engage and lock in operative )0- sition when the heads are brought together to'cou )le the cars. 7

With the above and other objects in view this invention consists of the novel form and the means for engaging'a-nd locking trainpipe couplings and the combination and arr ngementof parts hereinafter more specific- 2 5 1 described,illustrated in the drawings,

and particularly pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

I In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming av part of this specification, wherein like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in whicl1- Figure .1 is av side'view of my train-pipecoupling and the coupling-heat'ls of cars, each in coupling engagement. Fig. is aside View of the car-coupling heads and the pipecoupling members apart, just after disengagement. Fig. 3 is a plan section on hpe 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig.1; is a plan section on hnei 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 asection on line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Any suitable car couplinghead may be used to carry my automatic train-pipe couplings. Ihavc shown a preferred form ofcoupling-head; but it will be apparent other forms may be used. I

Rclcrring to the drawings by reference-numera-ls. '6. ode-note the two heads of the carcoupliilg. Each: head is provided with a locking device 7 7. which is adapted to effect the coupling when i 2 heads are brought-to-- getlifei'. Each ca coupling head is provided go, in

j with substantially rightangled triangular .ja-ws 8 8, positioned normally one above the j other, and each having integral ribs 9 9 at sufiicient angle to facilitate the coupling of cars of variant heights-of coupler positions. Each car-coupling head is also provided with a locking-lever 10, the inner end of which is pivoted on shaft 11 at the rear of the .trian gular aws S 8, but through the hollow draw ba 12. The outer end ofeach locking-lever 10 extends forwardly and is curved outwardly at its free end l3=and somewhat beyond the triangular jaws S S for the purpose of guiding the heads into the proper horizontal relation when opposing couplingrhcads aremade to approach each other for coupling engage ment. coupling head is provided, with a projecting locking shoulder 1-t for the purpose of interlocking with the other locking-lever in the op posing coupling-head. Each car-couplii'ig head is provided with a disengaging device comprising the shaft 1.5 through the inner ends of jaws 8 8, the'cra-nk 16, and the releasing heel 17 for the purpose of disconnecting the (.ar-coupling heads. Each lockinglever 10 is maintained in looking engagement by the leaf-spring 1S, suitably fastened at 19 and bearing upon its outer surface. Each lug 20 20 on the coupling members 21 21 has i a bar 22 therethro'ugh for slidabl'j suspending the pipe-coupling members 21 21 on the coupling-heads.

The pipe-cm'tpling's sire preferably suspended from the car-coupling headsthat-is to say, one member of the pipe-coupling is carried by one coupling head and the other member is carried by the opposite couplinghead. These members 21 21, which have inclined engaging faces 23 23 and whose lateral surfaces are subst antialiv right-angled triangles, are slid ably suspended on bars 22 22, secured in lugs 20 20 on the coupling-heads. A helical spring 2-1: is'arranged on each bar near the rearof' the coupling member 21 to form a 'vielding butler therefor. The forward end of each member is provided with an inwardlvprojecting shoulder 25. which is adapted to make a locking engagement with the heel or corner 26 of the other niember. Each member is provided with a yielding guide-arm 27 undelqthe tension of a leaf-spring 2$, fastened at 29.

he locking-lever 10 in each car face of each said member.

the face of each member are provided with a bers to assume their proper relative position when the cars are brought together, even thou h the car-coupling heads and the pipe coup ing members'may not at first lie in the same horizontal plane. In the main portion of the body of each member 21 there is provided oneor more air or steam passages 33 33 w o I I extending from the rearand opening in the The openings in suitablegasket 34 34. Theair or steam hose 35 35 is connected to the members 21 21 and said passages 3833 in any suitable manner. The shoulders 25 on each member are provided to prevent the inclined engaging faces of the pipe coupli'ng members rubbing to,- gether when interlocking or unlocking for the purpose of protecting the gaskets-34 34 in .the openings in said engagin faces. The shout ders 2525 will not permit the faces to contact until each has advanced far enough to be in normal and registering'position, when theyielding arm 27 will force each member into operative position and t e shoulders 25 25 past the corners 26 26 into ice (ing position. When the pipe couplings are disengaged, the shoulders 25 25 will cause the engaging faces 23 23 to recede fr'm each-other and obviate displacement 0 or injury to the gaskets 3-1 When the cars are brought together with a sharp impact upon their coupling-heads, the locking-levers 10 10 are guided into interlocking engagement, as shown in Figs 1 and 3, the several parts assuming-the positions therein shown automatically. To unlock the carcoupling, one or both of the release-cranks 16 l6'.-&I'G operated to force the releasing-heels 17 L7 outward to disengage the coupling-shoulders .14 14 on the locking-levers 10 10. hen the car-coupling heads are tlms'unlocked and the cars are separatech'the pipe-couplings will be automatically pulled apart from the position shownin Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, this operati on being effect ed solely by the separation of the carcoupling heads.

The pipe-coupling members interlock with each other automatically when the cars are coupled together the springs 24 2 forming yielding bufi'ers, which enable these members to adjust themselves in proper relation to each other. The guide-arms 27 27 bear on the pipe-coupling members with suilicient force to hold them in normal relation to engage each other, and the buli er-spriiigs .24 24 constantly push the members forward into engagement and hold the shoulders 2- each member i nterloeked with the ct) her, as. shown in Fig. 1. 'Ihe-pipe-cimplings are thus automatically coupled and uncoupled and this operation of the pipe-coupling i effected without the manipulation of any part other than the lo'cking and releasing of the car-coupling heads l I have shown a pipe-coupling adapted to air-brakes, but I do not limit myself to airbrake couplings, as the member's 21 21 may be provided with a sufficient number of passages to adapt it to the use ofsteam and an, and I therefore do not wish to restrict myself to the and as shown in the accompanying drawings, but reserve the right to make such changes, variations and modifications as come properly within the scope of the pro tection prayed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is.

1. In 'a train-pipe coupling the combination of two coupling members having inclined engagin facesar'ld having their forward ends provide with inwardly-projecting shoulders each adapted-to make locking engagement with, the heel of the opposite member, substantially as shown and described.

In atrain-pipe coupling the combination of two couplin membershaving body portions substantially triangularin cross-se(-- tion and their forward ends provided with inwardly-projecting shoulders each adapted-to the opposite member.

' In a train-pipe'lcoupling the combination of two coupling members haying body portions substantially trian ular in cross-section. and inclined engaging faces,'thc forward shoulders each adapted to make locking engagement with the heel of the opposite member.

' 4. In a train-pipe coupling the combination of two couplin members harixi-g their jecting shoulders each adapted to make locking engagement with the heel of the oppositemember and a spring-actuated pivoted guidearm bearing on each said member when the car-coupling heads are coupled substantially as shown and described.

5. In a train-pipe coupling the combination of two coupling members having body portions substantially, triangular in cross-section and inclined. enga 'ing faces, the forward ends of said members having inwardlyprojecting shoulders each adapted to make locks ing engagement with the heel of the o j pos te member, and a spring-grossed pivoted gnde shown and described.

6. In an automatic train-pip coupling the details of construction hereinbefore described make locking engagement with the heel of forward ends provit ed with inwardly-pro arm bearing on the bee of each said member .when the heads are coupled, substantially as ends thereof having inwardly-projecting combination with two coupling members havmg inclined engaging faces and'prov'ided at adapted'to-make locking engagement with the heel of the opposite member, substantially as shown and described.

8. The combination with a pair of carcoupling heads, of a "pipe-coupling comprising two members having inclined engagin faces and each havin agui'deway on the back thereof, the forwar ends of said members having inwardly-projecting shoulders each adapted to make locking en agement with the heel of the opposite mem er, and a pivoted guide-arm bearin on the back of each said member when San? heads are coupled.

9. The combination coupling heads, of a ipe-coupiing comprising two members aving their forward ends provided with inwardly projecting shoulders each ada ted to make locking engagement with the iieel of the opposite member, and a spring-actuated pivoted guidearm bearing on' the back of each said member when said heads are in coupling engagement.

10. The combination with a pair of cars coupling heads, of a pipe-coupling consisting of two members having body portions substantially triangular in cross-section and having the forward ends'thereof provided with inwardly-projecting shoulders each adapted to make locking engagement with the heel of the opposite member, and a pivoted guidearm bearing on the back of each said member when said heads are con led.

.11. The combination wit a pair of carcoupling heads, of a pipe-coupling comprising two members havingbody portions subieel' of the opposite mem- I mg two members the pipe-coupling compriseach said member having-one or with a pair of c-ar-.

stantially triangular in cross-section and having the forward ends thereof provided with inwardly-projecting shoulders each adapted to make. locking engagement with the heel of the opposite member, and a spring-pressed pivoted guide-arm bearing on the back of each said member when said heads are coup ed.

12. The combination with a pair of carcoupling heads, of a pipe-cou lin com risforward endi of w 'ch are provided with inwardl -projecting shoulders each adapted to ma e lockin ment with the heel of the opposite member, more air or passages in'the body portion enterin rear and opening in the face thereo steam at the and a spring-actuated pivoted guide-arm adacent to the face of each member and adapted to,make slidin contact-with the back of the op 'osite mem er. 7

13. Tn a train-pipe coupling the combination of two coupling members whose body portions are substantially triangularin cros'ssection having inclined engaging faces anda guideway on the backs thereof, the forward ends of said members having inwardly-projecting shoulders each adapted to make locking engagement with the heel of the opposite member, and a spring-pressed pivoted uidearmadapted to bear on the back of eac said member substantially as shown and described.

1 4. The combination with a palr of carcoupling heads, ofa pipe-coupling comprising two members having body portions substantially triangular in cross-section and having inclined engaging faces and a guideway on the back thereof, the forward ends of said members having inwardlyprojecting shoul' ders each adapted to make locking engagement with the heel of the opposite member, and a spring-actuated pivoted guide-arm adapted to bear on each said members when said heads are coupled.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature two witnesses.

inpresence of LEWIS C. CARY. Witnesses:

ALBERT MILLER,

ERNESTINE MARs'rADT.

g engage-- 

